50 young people have camped outside Senator Coburn’s office for 7 days, bearing the extreme cold, and will not leave until he removes a hold on a bill that would help stop a rebel group abducting children and terrorizing people in Africa. The organizers have a website with details and live video at coburnsayyes.com.

I need to update this, a lot has happened since I’ve posted it. Learning a lot of new things.

Cool impressive blog you got here that I agree with on most topics. (Some people) can agree to disagree without throwing a temper tantrum just because (they) lost the argument! The television and freedom of speech like the patriotic act, which was patronizing to my freedoms is somehting I agree witth you on.

An important and well-received documentary called Virtual JFK will be showing at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art May 21 through 24 ONLY. We believe this film may be of great interest to you.

Combining rare footage from numerous Kennedy press conferences, in-depth interviews and a close reading of the documentary record, the film argues that critical decisions about the use of restraint and coercive diplomacy often require greater acts of courage than the use of force. Produced by fellows of the Watson Institute for International Studies, the film applies what Harvard historian Niall Ferguson calls “virtual history” to consider what President John F. Kennedy might have done in Vietnam if he had not been assassinated in 1963 and was instead re-elected in 1964. More information about the film appears below and at www.virtualjfk.com.

We would most appreciate it if you would help us spread the word, either by forwarding the e-mail flyer below to OKC friends and readers or posting a notice on your Web site. Please let me know if you need any additional information or have any questions.

Sincerely,
Zoya Pierson
Sven Kahn Films, Inc.
c/o Koji Masutani
The Watson Institute for International Studies
Brown University
Box 1970
111 Thayer Street
Providence, RI 02912-1970
907-942-5101
zoya@virtualjfk.com

“An extended glimpse into a bygone era of statesmanship. In Masutani’s selection of clips, watching Kennedy field astute questions and scathing critiques with thoughtfulness and wit proves extremely illuminating; his weighing of complex factors in an international situation and consciousness of how much rides on his decisions strikes a now unfamiliar note.” – Ronnie Scheib, Variety

“A critical handbook for current and aspiring world leaders.” – Sergei Khrushchev, Son of Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev

“Fascinating.” – Sara Cardace, New York Magazine

“Captivating. Meticulous and wholly engrossing.” – Ted Fry, The Seattle Times

“Compelling. Insightful. Highly convincing.” – Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter

Produced by fellows of the Watson Institute for International Studies and combining rare footage from numerous Kennedy press conferences, in-depth interviews and a close reading of the documentary record, the film applies what Harvard historian Niall Ferguson calls “virtual history” to consider what President John F. Kennedy might have done in Vietnam if he had not been assassinated in 1963 and was instead re-elected in 1964. It is a provocative investigation of one of the most debated “what if” scenarios and takes its inspiration from Kennedy’s famous statement that “we must never negotiate out of fear, but we must never fear to negotiate.” It resonates powerfully with audiences who are invited to draw their own conclusions from the historical record.

Director Koji Masutani is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University and trained previously with cinematographer Christopher Doyle in Hong Kong. Producer and narrator James Blight is a Professor of International Studies at the Watson Institute for International Studies and served as principal substantive advisor to Errol Morris during the production of The Fog of War, winner of the 2004 Academy Award® for Best Documentary. A book of the same title, written by the film’s producers James Blight, Janet Lang and David Welch was published by Rowman & Littlefield on January 28, 2009.

Additional information, including a trailer, are available at http://www.virtualjfk.com.